Help us reach our end-of-year support goal!

Your support, financial or otherwise, is what keeps the 'Geek online.
Only
23 days
left to get bonus GeekGold!
- learn more.
"This is the most robust boardgaming resource available. I come here every day, and I hope to continue to do so."
-
Sam Wineinger (spcsamri)

From Abacusspiele I have already received my copy (wow, they were fast!) of Zooloretto Würfelspiel and Africana, the new Michael Schacht game in the „book of adventures” series started by Valdora.

I have taken some pics (here: Africana, Zooloretto Dice Game)– I wanted to take them in natural light but it was rather impossible when the kids were awake so these are simple pics with kit flashlight.

I have added some of these pics to my Africana review. I guess the it is is easier to read this way.

I was also thinking of how different Africana is from Valdora. It’s not only different, I’d say it takes the book of adventures series as close to the Ticket to Ride series, or maybe the world of Alan R. Moon as it can get. It feels a bit like Ticket to Ride with open cards – in part the book of adventures in part 5 cards laying open and accessible for everyone – or is it like in Elfenland? Elfenland is more about taking your adventurers from here to there, paying by specific cards that are needed to move to the neighbouring city, just like in Africana. But as in Ticket to Ride, you have tickets with starting and end stations that you have to connect some way (even a map is drawn on each card to make it easy to connect them). It’s a point-to-point movement game that is probably as close to the most popular (and Spiel des Jahres-winning) Alan R. Moon designs as a game by Michael Schacht can get. But well, the game is listed as „pick up and deliver”, probably based on its similarities with Valdora. I don’t think it’s right. I don’t think this is a pick up and deliver game. You don’t really pick up and transport anything but your researcher. You get some bonuses for reaching certain cities but you don’t take these to anywhere on the board.Unless anyone explains me why it’s a pick up and deliver game, I will ask the mods to change the game entry. Until then, read my review.. Thanks for your attention.